Rudisha and Vlasic are World Athletes of the Year – 2010 World Athletics Gala

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Monte Carlo - David Rudisha (KEN) and Blanka Vlasic (CRO) were named the Male and Female World Athletes of the Year for 2010 by IAAF President Lamine Diack earlier today, and will receive their trophies officially this evening at the 2010 World Athletics Gala, held at the Salle des Etoiles of the Sporting Club d’Eté.

The 2010 World Athletics Gala will be hosted by International Athletic Foundation (IAF) Honorary President HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco and IAF & IAAF President Lamine Diack, who will each present the awards.

Rudisha, 21, broke the World record in the 800 metres twice this season, was unbeaten in 12 contests over the distance, claimed the African title and won at the inaugural IAAF / VTB Bank Continental Cup in Split, Croatia.

Vlasic, the two-time World champion in the High Jump, added a second World indoor title to her collection this year, was unbeaten in seven Samsung Diamond League competitions, and also took the IAAF / VTB Bank Continental Cup in her hometown of Split.

"I must say that being Athlete of the Year is a tremendous performance and honour, something we all as athletes want to achieve,” said Rudisha, a former World junior champion who was nominated for the World Athlete of the Year for the first time. At 21 years, 338 days old, Rudisha is the youngest to ever be named Male Athlete of the Year.

In Berlin on 22 August, the young Kenyan clocked 1:41.09 to break the record set by Wilson Kipketer 13 years earlier. Just one week later, Rudisha broke it again, running 1:41.01 in Rieti. "After breaking two World records in one week, I was hoping to win this," Rudisha said.

Vlasic, history's second highest jumper at 2.08m, capped another strong season with a successful defence of her World indoor title before embarking on a nearly flawless season outdoors. She claimed her first European title, and won all but two of her 14 competitions outdoors.

"This is an amazing achievement, it can’t get better than this. I’m proud and I’m honoured," said Vlasic, who was also the year's co-world leader at 2.05m. "I struggled in each competition this year. So the step I made this year psychologically meant more than being able to jump a certain height. So winning this award after this season means even more." In all, Vlasic won 18 of her 20 competitions in 2010.

Other award winners included:

Coaches' Award: Santiago Antúnez (CUB)Antúnez, 63, long renowned for his expertise in the high hurdles, has most famously guided the career of Dayron Robles. Robles entered the world stage at 19 when he won the silver medal in the 60m Hurdles at the 2006 World Indoor Championships in Moscow. By the end of 2008, Robles was the Olympic champion and World record holder in the event at 12.87.

Rising Star Awards:- Male - Till Wöschler (GER): The European junior silver medallist in the Javelin Throw in 2009, Wöschler took the World junior title in Moncton with a throw of 82.52m, a national junior record.

- Female - Angelica Bengtsson (SWE): The 17-year-old, who claimed the World Youth title in the Pole Vault in 2009, continued her winning ways in 2010, first with a victory at the IAAF World Junior Championships in Moncton, and then at the Inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore. She leaped 4.47m this season, a World Youth best.